The Boston Red Sox have announced that ticket prices are to be frozen for the next season. The decision was made in response to fans airing their concerns that they would not be able to afford tickets for next season due to the credit crunch.

“We have been listening to fans, friends and family about the challenges they are facing in light of the current adverse economic conditions. We hope our ownership’s decision to hold prices for the upcoming season will in some way help ease the burden on Red Sox Nation.” Larry Lucchino, Red Sox President.

Red Sox ticket prices were actually the highest in Major League Baseball last season, selling at just under 50 bucks each. Other baseball teams including the San Francisco Giants and Cincinnati Reds are also freezing ticket prices  to keep fans coming during the credit crunch.

As unemployment increases, job security dwindles to nothing, and the credit crunch bites deeper, people are starting to cut back on their costs. Usually the first place savings are made is sports, gym memberships and expensive hobbies.

However, some Major League teams are ignoring the credit crunch. The Sox’s main rival, the New York Yankees, are moving to their new ballpark for next season. The top seats cost $2,500 per game. Last season, the Yankees had the highest opening-day payroll, at $209 million, with the Red Sox No. 4 at $133 million.

Red Sox Facts:

On May 31st 2008, Manny Ramirez, pictured above, hit his 500th home run, against Baltimore Orioles pitcher Chad Bradford at Camden Yards in the 7th inning on the first pitch. He become the 24th player in Major League Baseball history to do so. He joined two other Red Sox players, Jimmie Foxx and Ted Williams in this exclusive home run club.

The National Football League has announced that it plans to cut ticket prices by 10% due to the “the economic challenges facing fans.”

Commissioner Roger Goodell sent out new pricing guidelines to teams in play-off contention. The clubs use the guidelines to set prices for tickets to the play-offs, which begin Jan. 3 2009. The NFL won’t know the league-wide average post season ticket price until play-off locations are decided. Last season’s average was $121.

“This is an important and stark reminder that all of those in the industry are being impacted by the current economic conditions. The NFL, despite its strength, realizes that its fans are vulnerable.” David Carter, Sports Business Institute, University of Southern California.

The NFL is slashing the price of 1,000 Super Bowl tickets by THREE HUNDRED DOLLARS, from $800 to $500. This is the first time the NFL has cut the price of these tickets. It said in October that some tickets to the Super Bowl were expected to reach $1,000 for the first time.

Currently an average NFL season ticket costs 72 dollars. The cost of taking a family of four to a game, including tickets, beers, hot dogs, soft drinks, parking and ball caps, rose 7.1% to almost 400 dollars.

“It is important to recognize that the cost of a ticket is only part of the overall cost of attending a game. If playoff tickets are reduced on the average by $15, that savings may in fact be offset by increased parking costs or otherwise find itself gobbled up by other game-day expenses.” David Carter

The NFL is one of the most lucrative sports in the world, but the global economic downturn is likely to see a drop in stadium revenues. However, television advertising may see an unexpected increase in response, as more fans stay home to watch the game.

Sporting Fact: Top NFL Player of 2008: LaDainian Tomlinson, San Diego Chargers

LaDainian Tomlinson, the 31 year old currently plays running back for the San Diego Chargers. Tomlinson, frequently called “LT”, set several records during the 2006 NFL season by scoring a league-leading 186 points. He received additional honors by winning the NFL’s Most Valuable Player Award and the Associated Press’ Offensive Player of the Year Award.

• Height: 5-10   Weight: 221   Age: 29
• Born: 6/23/1979 Rosebud , TX
• College: Texas Christian
• Experience: 8th season
• High School: University HS [Waco, TX]

Action heroes are all the rage once again, but whereas during the 1980’s and 1990’s action heroes were restricted to bodybuilders like Sly Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger, today’s action heroes come in all forms, often well established actors that buff up to get into character. Daniel Craig as James Bond, Brad Pitt as Troy and Tyler Duncan, James McAvoy in Wanted, and Christian Bale as Batman, are great examples of this.

The most surprising recent addition to the action hero wall of fame, is Harrison Ford. For Indiana Jones and the Kingdon of The Cyrstal Skull, Ford had to work out hard, in what has been described as a brutal regime, to get himself in shape. Ford is now 66 years old (born July 13, 1942). He is proof that it is never too late to get buffed up for the cameras! We have covered in recent articles how to get fit, and how to build muscle, so lets look at how to stay motivated to get into such great shape.

Workout Rules for an Action Hero Physique:

Never Train for Vanity: People that start working out with just one goal, to look good, generally lose motivation first, and fail in their mission to attain the perfect body. Train for a goal with a greater purpose, such as to prolong life, be a better ball player, to be more active with kids, to be a better boxer.

Remain Focused on the Task: Having a detailed workout routine is essential. People that perform ad hoc exercises and do not plan their workouts fail to make the gains in improvements required to reach their goals. Having a gym buddy or personal instructor can help you stay focussed.

No Pain No Gain: If you just want to lose weight and get fitter, then this rule does not apply. However, if you want to develop a ripped, lean super fit body, then you have to work hard. Intensive workouts can be cruel, but they are essential.

Manage Your Expectations: Never aim too high too soon, as you will be more likely to lose heart, and then fail completely. Set achievable goals. Your fitness goals should be managed in the same way as business goals, with short, medium and long term goals. Short term could include to lose 5 pounds and bench press 5 more kilos. Medium term could be to complete 2 full circuits of your own circuit training routine. Long term could be to have 8% body fat and a six pack!

Exercise Restraint: Once you are past your mid-twenties, understand that your body takes longer to recover from just about all activities. So if you go out partying, then do not expect to be able to perform the required training to following day. Be sensible. Adapt your lifestyle to allow you to change your body!

Diversity is the Spice of Life: Exercise the whole body, and perform as many different exercises as possible. Many people make the mistake of focussing on abs or biceps, which will never work. Look at compound weight training, core training, full bodyweight training as well as isolation exercises (bicep curls, crunches).

Never Overtrain: Overtraining is one of the biggest mistakes. People think that if they workout more, they gain more. However, this is not true. Your body only has a finite supply of glycogen and protein, and these are depleted when training. If you do not allow adequate recovery time, your muscles will actually go in to decline, and you are much more likely to carry injuries.

Read the workouts of our favourite action heroes:

• Daniel Craig as James Bond
• Brad Pitt as Troy and Tyler Duncan
• James McAvoy in Wanted
• Christian Bale as Batman